LG Electronics makes pledges on recycling plastic

LG Electronics said Thursday it will use more recycled plastic in its manufacturing of goods.

LG Electronics' headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul [YONHAP]

LG Electronics said Thursday it will use more recycled plastic in its manufacturing of goods.

It aims to increase the use of recycled plastic to an accumulated total of 600,000 tons by 2030, an ambitious increase over the current 20,000 tons per year.

By 2025, it aims to use an accumulated total of 200,000 tons. Currently, LG uses recycled plastic for internal parts of televisions, monitors, refrigerators and air conditioners, but the manufacturer plans to extend the application to exteriors.

LG’s numerical target is more ambitious than its archrival Samsung Electronics. Samsung aims to use 250,000 more tons of recycled plastic between 2021 and 2030, according to its annual sustainable management report. On an accumulated basis, that would add up to 52.6 million tons by 2030.

Similarly, LG will accelerate its efforts to recycle household appliances. The company raised its target for the collection of discarded appliances from 4.5 million tons to 8 million tons by 2030. Some 3.07 million tons of used appliances have been collected so far.

Its recycling centers around the Chilseo Recycling Center in Haman, South Gyeongsang, a discarded appliance-focused recycling center run by LG Electronics.

The company also collects discarded home appliances from 52 different countries.

To reduce carbon emissions in the production of electric products, LG Electronics signed up for the Business Ambition for 1.5°C, a global alliance of companies for carbon neutrality.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]